President 2021-2022

Tam o’ Shanter, a character with plently of tales to tell, sat passively in the garden of the Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Museum as he facilitated the socially distanced handover of the Rotary Club of West Fife President’s chain.

As retiring President Roger Hall demitted office he delegated the regalia exchange to the Ayrshire farmer famous for his hallucinations and equestrian assisted escapes. In the unfamiliar sobering light of day Tam was able to deliver the chain of office to incoming President Douglas Scott.

The clock has certainly spun back as Douglas has been elected to serve as the club’s President for a second time, 28 years after first holding that post! In returning to lead the club he hopes to be able to identify meaningful projects that will deliver both locally and internationally. He commented to the local press:-

“Rotary has an unjust image as an organisation dominated by ageing males but in West Fife, Rotary aims to meet local needs and be relevant in a post Covid environment.

“We are always seeking to identify, encourage and support projects that will make a difference in our community. By doing that we hope to attract like minded people from within our community to join us in Rotary.”

Douglas Scott (69) now lives in Dalgety Bay with his wife Christine and is extremely well known in Dunfermline. For 30 years he worked in the family butchers business at 25 High Street before moving on to be Chief Executive of the trade organisation representing retail butchers in Scotland for 17 years. He held the post of Chairman of the Dunfermline Town Centre Traders Association, is a past chair of Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council and has been a trustee of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust since 1992.

Douglas co-authored the book Black and White Magic recalling the halcyon days of Dunfermline Athletic in the 1960s and since its launch in 2000 he has been responsible for reporting the football content on the football club’s official website. He is also a Past President and still active member of Dunfermline Curling Club.

In becoming the West Fife club’s Vice President, Aileen North becomes the first woman to hold that position in the 42 year history of the club.